Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B3/00—Disc wheels, i.e. wheels with load-supporting disc body
  • B60B3/02—Disc wheels, i.e. wheels with load-supporting disc body with a single disc body integral with rim
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21K—MAKING FORGED OR PRESSED METAL PRODUCTS, e.g. HORSE-SHOES, RIVETS, BOLTS OR WHEELS
  • B21K25/00—Uniting components to form integral members, e.g. turbine wheels and shafts, caulks with inserts, with or without shaping of the components
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
  • B23P11/00—Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for 
  • B23P11/005—Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for  by expanding or crimping
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
  • B23P11/00—Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for 
  • B23P11/02—Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for  by first expanding and then shrinking or vice versa, e.g. by using pressure fluids; by making force fits
  • B23P11/025—Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for  by first expanding and then shrinking or vice versa, e.g. by using pressure fluids; by making force fits by using heat or cold
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B21/00—Rims
  • B60B21/02—Rims characterised by transverse section
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B21/00—Rims
  • B60B21/02—Rims characterised by transverse section
  • B60B21/026—Rims characterised by transverse section the shape of rim well
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B25/00—Rims built-up of several main parts ; Locking means for the rim parts
  • B60B25/002—Rims split in circumferential direction
  • B60B25/004—Rims split in circumferential direction one rim part comprising the wheel disc
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B3/00—Disc wheels, i.e. wheels with load-supporting disc body
  • B60B3/04—Disc wheels, i.e. wheels with load-supporting disc body with a single disc body not integral with rim, i.e. disc body and rim being manufactured independently and then permanently attached to each other in a second step, e.g. by welding
  • B60B3/041—Disc wheels, i.e. wheels with load-supporting disc body with a single disc body not integral with rim, i.e. disc body and rim being manufactured independently and then permanently attached to each other in a second step, e.g. by welding characterised by the attachment of rim to wheel disc
  • B60B3/044—Disc wheels, i.e. wheels with load-supporting disc body with a single disc body not integral with rim, i.e. disc body and rim being manufactured independently and then permanently attached to each other in a second step, e.g. by welding characterised by the attachment of rim to wheel disc characterised by cross-sectional details of the attachment, e.g. the profile
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B3/00—Disc wheels, i.e. wheels with load-supporting disc body
  • B60B3/06—Disc wheels, i.e. wheels with load-supporting disc body formed by casting
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49481—Wheel making
  • Y10T29/49492—Land wheel
  • Y10T29/49496—Disc type wheel
  • Y10T29/49499—Assembling wheel disc to rim

Definitions

• This invention concerns a method of joining forged, machined, formed or cast components with metal tube.
• it concerns a metal object constructed according to the method.
• the invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to the construction of vehicle wheels having a forged, machined, formed or cast hub or centre and a metal rim.
• the rivet and bolt holes are also points from which cracks can propagate and, particularly with bolted wheels, there is always the risk that the bolts are not tightened such that their performance is totally reliable in extended use. Bonding as the primary " means of joining wheel components has not, to date, proved to have market acceptance, following a history of failures in the past.
• the invention provides a method of joining forged, machined, formed or cast central components with metal tube.
• the method comprises the steps of: heating the tube to expand its diameter, but not sufficiently to anneal it, or otherwise adversely affect its mechanical properties. Then, while the tube is still hot, pushing the tube over part of the central component so that part of the tube overlies a circumferential groove in the central component.
• This process may be cheap, and robust, giving reliable results which don't degrade the metallurgy of the joint. It has marketing credibility and offers freedom of styling.
• the circumferential groove may be machined into the hub or centre component.
• a stop may be provided along one side of the groove.
• the heated tube may be pushed over the component from the other side until the end of the tube abuts the stop.
• the end of the tube abutting the stop may be bevelled, knurled, or similar.
• the stop may be spin forged, while the tube is still hot, into the space remaining in the groove as a result of the bevelling of the end of the tube. This gives a neat appearance and a smooth finish.
• the spin forged centre material interlocks with the knurled tube end, providing reliable torque transmission capability for the joint. It also locks the joint against any axial movement and any tendency of the joint and of the rim to open up under load. It also provides a practical way of removing the stop and improving the appearance of the joint without recourse to a secondary operation.
• the joint system relies for its integrity on the fact that the rolling and spin forging operations are done hot, that when the whole joint cools, the shrinkage of the formed metal in the joint, relatively to the centre component provides a tight uniform clamping force with a high degree of pre-load. It is important that the metal tube is heated only sufficiently to increase its ductility, or formability, but not enough the anneal the material or otherwise adversely affect its mechanical properties. For some materials, such as mild steel, which possesses very good formability in the as-supplied condition, heating is not required for any purpose other than to introduce the shrinkage factor into the joint. Adhesive may be applied to the mating surfaces of the joint prior to assembly to provide a reliable torque transmission capability, and also to seal the joint.
• dimples may be provided in the floor of the groove into which the tube is rolled in order to provide a mechanical interlock. This may be particularly useful where no stop is employed and the alloy tube is pushed entirely over the central component to extend from either side.
• the central component may be a cast, machined, formed or forged hub
• the metal rim of the wheel may comprise a formed tubular structure which is pushed on to the hub.
• the rim may be pushed on to the hub for a predetermined distance, or pushed right over the hub to extend either side by the desired amounts before the joining process is completed.
• the invention provides a vehicle wheel comprising a central cast, machined, formed or forged hub or centre, and a metal rim connected to the hub by being shrunk fit on to it and having at least one part roll formed down into a circumferential groove around the hub or centre.
• a stop formed in part of the hub may be spin forged down over the top of the roll formed part of the rim. If the rim is bevelled or knurled before roll forming, then a space will be left afterwards into which the stop may be spin forged.
• a sealing material may be provided between the rim and the hub in order to improve the bonding, or seal the joint, or both. Dimples may also be introduced into the bed of the groove to provide a mechanical interlock when the rim is rolled into the groove.
• the method is particularly suitable for the construction of the vehicle wheels due to the homogenous 360 degree clamping and locking affect which is able to be produced.
• the method provides for the isolation of the critical locking portion of the joint, that is the roll into the groove, by the shrink fit of the rim on to the central component.
• Figure 1 illustrates a first step in a process embodying the invention.
• Figure 2 illustrates a second step in the process.
• Figure 3 illustrates a third step.
• Figure 4 illustrates a fourth step.
• Figure 5 illustrates a vehicle wheel constructed to a variation of the process.
• the central component of the wheel a cast, forged, machined or formed hub or centre 1 features a circumferential groove 2 which is machined into it.
• the outer shoulder 3 of groove 2 has a smaller diameter than the interior shoulder or stop 4.
• the preformed alloy tube 5 which is to become the wheel rim has its inner edge 6 bevelled, knurled or similar.
• An adhesive or sealant 7 may be applied to the mating faces of the central component 1 and the rim 5.
• the rim 5 is heated to expand it and increase its ductility or formability. It is not heated enough to anneal the material or to have any adverse affect on its mechanical properties. Once heated, the rim is pushed on to the central component 1 until the bevelled end 6 meets stop 4, as shown in Figure 2.
• the central component 1 in this case includes a central groove 2 having outer shoulder 3 and an inner shoulder 12.
• the rim 5 comprises both exterior rim parts 14 and interior rim parts
• the invention has been described with reference to forming a vehicle wheel it should be appreciated that it may be applied to the construction of many other items, including the construction of alloy space frame such are used in the construction of passenger vehicles. It should also be appreciated that the simple rolling of the rim into the groove and the shrinkage should be perfectly reliable in many applications, but that the spin forging of the stop, of the use of adhesive or interlocking formations improves the joint.
• the invention makes possible reliable joints between dissimilar materials.
• the rim, or tube, component would always be metal, either steel, aluminium or possibly titanium, magnesium or other structural metal. But the hub, or male component, could be either metal or possibly plastic or composite material, such as carbon fibre or metal matrix composite.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Forging (AREA)
• Ceramic Products (AREA)
• Pressure Welding/Diffusion-Bonding (AREA)
• Connections Effected By Soldering, Adhesion, Or Permanent Deformation (AREA)
• Heat Treatment Of Articles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=3800576

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (11)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 1997
  • 1997-04-17 AU AUPO6281A patent/AUPO628197A0/en not_active Abandoned
• 1998
  • 1998-04-17 CN CN98803938A patent/CN1107560C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-04-17 JP JP54455398A patent/JP2001520584A/ja active Pending
  • 1998-04-17 CA CA002286280A patent/CA2286280C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-04-17 AT AT98914711T patent/ATE243080T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-04-17 EP EP98914711A patent/EP1009558B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-04-17 WO PCT/AU1998/000271 patent/WO1998047640A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-04-17 DE DE69815693T patent/DE69815693T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1999
  • 1999-11-03 US US09/433,408 patent/US6533362B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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